Machine for packing explosive gelatin.



No. 682,390. Patented Sept. l0, l90l.

J. C. SCHRADER.

MACHINE FOR PACKING EXPLUSIVE GELATIN.

(Application Bled July 28, 1900.)

N0. 682,390. Patented Sept. l0, |90l. J. C. SCHRADER.

MACHINE FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVE GELATIN.

(Application led July 28, 1900.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

NiTED VSTATES JOHN C. SCHRADER, OF DOVER, NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR PACKING EXPLOSIVE GELATIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of lLetters Patent No. 682,390, dated September 10, 1901.

Application filed J' uly 28, 1900.

To all whoml it may concern:

Be it known that I', JOHN C. SCHRADER," a citizen of the United States,residing at Dover, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey, have ii vented new and useful Improvements in Machines for PaekingExplosi ve Gelatin, of which the following is a specification.

Explosive gelatin is put up for commercial use in the form of cartridges about eight inches long and of varying diameters. These cartridges are formed by a machine known to the trade as a gelatin-packing machine, which very closely resembles an ordinary sausage-making machine. As heretofore constructed it consists of a case containing a shaft and screw and provided with a hopper for containing the gelatin. The revolution of .the shaft causes the thread of the screw to'push the gelatin from the hopper through a nozzle at the end of the case, from whence it issues in a continuous rope. This rope is cut into desired-lengths, which are rolled up in waterproof cartridge-paper for storage or shipment.

The sluggish character of the gelatin has rendered it necessary to provide means for forcing it from the hopper to the pressingscrew, and for this purpose the hopper has been provided with a' plunger operated by a screw and lever after the manner of an ordinary screw-press. IThis construction necessarily limits the operation of the machine to the capacity of the hopper, it being necessary after the contents of the hopper have become exhausted to stop theinachine and withdraw the plunger before another charge of gelatin can be introduced. p

One object of my invention is to supply means for forcing gelatin lto the pressingscrew which will leave the hopper open for the receptionof materialduring the operation of the machine, and thus render the machine continuous in its operation, the result accomplished being a material saving in time and labor and a very considerable increase in the number of cartridges formed in the course of a days operation. K

The diameter of the cartridges is Vdetermined by the size of the nozzle through which the gelatin is rforced by the packing-screw, the nozzle being readily detached and another substituted when it is desired to change from Serial No. 25.116. (No model.)

one size of cartridge to another. The packing-screw has heretofore been a fixture in the machine and necessarily packed the same quantity of material in a given time, regardless of the size of nozzle used, and it will be readily apparent that cartridges of a large diameter could not be made asfast as those of smaller diameter. In order to render the machine capable of forming a rope of large diameter with the same rapidity as one smaller in size, I have so constructed my machine that the pressing-screw may be removed a'nd another replaced with considerably less time and trouble thanrequired for substituting one nozzle for another, and by providing screws of different pitch I am enabled to use with a large nozzle a screw having a greater pitch than the one to be used with a smaller nozzle, and thereby equalize the rapidity with which the diierent-sizes of ropes are formed.

Another novel featnre of my machine is the automatic action of the screw feeding mechanism by which the gelatin fed to the packing-screw is regulated according to the quantity required. In the old form of machine, where the hand-operated plunger is used, there is liability of the plunger being operated to force the gelatin beyond the capacity of the screw, and thus create danger of explosion. the pressure upon the material in the hopper according to the requirements of the pressing-screw all danger of explosion from too great pressure is eliminated and greater uniformity is secured in the cartridges produced.

After a detail description of my invention the features deemed novel will be specified in the claims hereunto annexed.

. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates one of my machines in front elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan or top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the working portions of the machine. Fig.

44 is a detail showing the spline connection between the shaft of the screw feeding mechanism and 'ts driving gear. Fig. 5 illustrates the key for holding the pressing-screw in position in the machine. Fig. 6 illustrates a pressing-screw of greater pitch than that shown in Fig. 3 to be used with a nozzle having alarge bore, and Fig. 7 is a' section of the nozzle to be used with the screw of Fig. 6.

By automatically regulating IOO Vany convenient sourceof power.

friction-clutch D, operated by a hand-lever d, said clutch 'being of a well-known construction and needing no special description.v

In line with shaft `B is a screw-case consistiugofa wooden block E, bored, as at e, for thereception of thepackiug-screw F and 'confined in position betweenblocks or projections a2 a2, cast integral with the base A. Above the space between the case E and bearing a is a shield or plate 62 which protects the bearings from gelatin that may accidentally fall from the hopper K. In front of the case E isa casting a5, to which a water-jacketed nozzle Gr is bolted, said casting having an opening registering with the opening in the block or case E and being secured to the projections a2 a2 by bolts a4 a4, asvshown in Fig. 1. The nozzle G is detachablysecured tothe casting a3 by bolts g', and it ismade tapering, as shown, so that the gelatin will be thoroughly compressed or packed in being forced through its outer end by the packing-screw F. Nozzles having dierent-sized openings are provided for forming the various sizes'of cartridges, the change from one size to another being quickly made by means of the.

bolts g', as will be readily understood.

The pressing-screw F is formed on the end of a rod f, which is inserted in the hollow driving-shaft B, said rod and shaft being rotatively connected by a spline j" on the rod, which fits into a groove in the interior of the shaft B. At the rear of the machine is an abutment or stop 72, for rthe inner end of rod f, and between said abutment and the bearing a' is a space h for a forked key 15, (specially illustrated in Fig. 5,) which spans rod f and enters an annular groove f2, formed therein, and locks the rod (and screw F) to its position in the machine. f

It will be seen that when the nozzle G is detached from the machine the screw F may be withdrawn from the hollow shaft by liftl ing the key i and another screw inserted with-` vout eXtra trouble or loss of time.

Screws of diiferent vpitch are provided for the differentsized nozzles,`-the screw of. greatest pitch be- -ing used with the largest nozzle and that with p the least pitch with the smallest nozzle, so

that all sizes of rope may issue from the machine with the same rapidity and an equal number of cartridges formed in the same time, i

regardless of their size. 4 The hopper K is in the form of an inverted cone located above the'case E and communi eating with the interior thereof by way of an opening e', and said hopper is water-jacketed, as at Za, so that its contents maybe kept to the required temperature by means of water circulated through the jacketed portion, as

y will be understood. Within the hopper is the screw feeding mechanism, which consists of blades Z, projecting from a shaft L, suspended from a frame or support A', bolted to the base A and provided with suitable bearings Z Z2, in

which said shaft L rotates. The faces of the ,around the shaft in order to give a larger bearing-surface for contact with the material at that point. lThe gelatin in the hopper is prevented from rotating with the blades by the vertical ribs 7c on the surface of the hopper. (Shown in Fig. 3.,) Shaft L is free to rise in its bearings Z Z2 and is held in proper relation to the hopper by Weights M, supd ported on ap adjustable collar m, which normally rests on the upper bearing Z. Shaft L is driven by means of a gear n, mounted thereon between the bearings Z Z2, said gear and shaft being rotatively coupled together by means of a spline connection, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the shaft may rise and fallindepei'deutly of the gear. .Meshing with gear n is a similar gear n', fixed to a short horizontal shaft n2, mounted in the support A and carrying at its outer end a pulley o, which is driven by a belt from pulley o' on the main driving-shaft B, as shown in Fig. 3. The gears fn. and n are housed or iuclosed within a casing N, one half of which is cast integral with the frame A' and the other half integral with the caps of the bearings Z Z2, the capbolts` serving to secure the two `halves together.

' The driving-pulley C is continuously driven .bya belt from any source of power, the machine beiug started and stopped by means of the friction -clutch D, already referred to. The hopper K is provided with a projecting lip k2 to facilitate the introduction of gelatin during the operation of the machine; but a continuons mechanical feed may be employed with entiresafety, if desired; but provision should be made for regulating the feed in proportion to the quantity required, which will vary with the size of nozzle and pitch of screw employed.

The l screw-feeding` mechanism within the hopper is rendered automatic in its action by the angular surfaces of the blades and the mounting of the shaft L, whereby it is free to rise during the operation of the machine. The quantity fed'to the screw is proportion- IOO IIO

ate to the pressure upon the material in the 2 'pressing-screw should fall behind the quantity fed thereto; but by mounting the blades so that they will be raised by any extra condensation of material no greater pressure can 5 be put upon the material than the combined in the first instance to suit particular requirements by increasing or diminishing the weights M on the shaft-L.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is e l 1. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination with a packing-screw and its case, of automatically-regulated feeding mechanism for variably supplying material to said casein response to variations in the quantity consumed by said sc rew, substantially 'as described.

2. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination with a packing-screw and its case, of a hopper, means for feeding material therefromto said screw, and means whereby the-amount fed to said screw will be automatically Variedin response to variations in the quantity/'consumed by said screw,

substantially as described.

3. In a machine for packing explosive gela-v tin,-the combination with a packing-screw hopper for forcing material therefrom to said screw, and means whereby the pressure upon the material in the hopper will remain constant during the operation of the machine regardless of the quantity consumedby said screw, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination with a packing-screw and its case, of a hopper, means within the hopper for forcing material to the packingscrew, and means for regulating the pressure upon the material, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination with a packing-screw and its case, of a hopper, a vertically-movable shaft suspended therein, horizontal blades carried by said shaft having downwardly-inclined faces, and means for rotating said shaft, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination with a packingscrew and its case, of a hopper, revoluble blades within said hopper having faces angular to their plane of rotation, and means whereby said blades are free to rise during their rotation, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination with a packingscrew and its case, of a hopper, a' vertical shaft suspended therein having blades angular to a horizontal plane projecting radially therefrom, said shaft being free to rise in suitable bearings, an adjustable weight on said shaft,

6 5. and means for revolvingsaid shaft and screw,

substantially as described.

8. Inl a machine for packing explosive gelaand its case, of a hopper, means within thetin, the combination with a packing-screw and its case, ofY a frame, a hopper, a longitu-l dinally-movable shaft suspended therein,

horizontal blades carried by said shaft having downwardly-inclined faces, a gear splined to said shaft supportedby said'frame, and

means for rotating said gearsubstantially as described. p

v9. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin,- the combination with a packing -screw and its case; of a frame,a.h opper, a longitudinally-movable shaft suspended therein, horizontal blades carried Vby said'shafthaving downwardly-'inclined faces, a gear splined to said shaft supported by said frame within a closed case, substantially as described.

- 10. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination of a hollow drivingshaft, a packing-screw provided with an extension fitting into said hollow shaft, and

forming the sole support for said screw, and

means for rotatively coupling saidscrew and shaft, substantially as described.

11. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination of a hollow drivingshaft, of a packing-'screw provided with a rearwardy extension fitting into saidhollowv shaft and extending beyond the rear end thereof, and a key at the rear end of said extension for, preventing its withdrawal from said shaft, substantially as described.

12. In a machine for packing explosive gela- I tin, the combination of a packing-screw case apacking-screw within said case, means for revolving said screw,and means vwhereby said screw may be readily withdrawn from said case and another inserted without dis turbing the revolving means, substantially asI described.

13. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination of a packing-screw case having a detachable nozzle, a packing-screw within said case, rotating mechanism for said screw, and means whereby said screw may,

tin, the combination with a packing-screw and its case, of -a hopper communicating with said case, a vertically-movable shaft suspended in said hopper from bearings above the same, horizontal blades. carried' by said shaft having downwardlydnclined faces, and substantially vertical ribs on the inner surface of said hopper, substantially as described.

15. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination of a packing-screw, a case therefor, a jacketedhopper communicating with said case, and a detachable jacketed nozzle for said case,substantially as described.

16. In a machine for packing explosive gelatin, the combination with a packing-screw and its case, of a hopper communicating with said case, hol-zoutlly-revoluble blades sus- In testimony whereof I have hereunto s et pended in sadhopper and adapted t-o force my hand in presence of two subscribing wit'.- nmterial therefrom to sind screw, and means nesses.

permittingthe automatic rising'of said bades J OIIN C. SCI-IRADER.

5 when Iche material offers sufficient resistance Witnesses:

to the rotation thereof, substantially as de- VILBUR L. HALE, scribed. JOHN G. VAN ETTEN. 

